Snap-in, rope loop step pad

Abstract

An individual step pad which can be incorporated into any loop of rope or dock line. The step pad provides a permanent or temporary rescue and utility footing in combination with a piece of rope. The step pad comprises a step pad portion, the step pad portion having a generally flat upper surface, a lower surface, upper edges, a predetermined thickness and lengthwise ends. The step pad portion further has two rope receiving notches in the lengthwise ends each consisting of a semi-circular groove extending vertically through the step pad, the semi-circular groove having a predetermined diameter, whereby the piece of rope is captured within the semi-circular groove of the notches on either end of the step pad. The device is portable and can float, and when installed in a loop of rope, can be thrown to a person in the water or in another boat, etc. The device can accommodate ropes or dock lines of different sizes, the device being secured at either end by a rope of a predetermined size fitted into one of the rope notches at either end of the device, rendering the device infinitely adaptable to ropes of various operative dimensions. A method for using the step pad is also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A permanent or temporary rescue and utility stirrup comprising, in combination: a step pad with a homogenous construction having: a generally flat upper surface with a predetermined width and a predetermined length, the predetermined width and predetermined length suitable for gasping manually and for standing upon;   a lower surface;   a predetermined thickness; and   two ends, the two ends each having a rope receiving notch consisting of a semi-circular groove of a predetermined diameter extending between the upper surface and the lower surface through the step pad;   a loop of rope, wherein the step pad is positioned inside the loop of rope with the rope captured and engaged within the semi-circular groove of the rope receiving notches.     
     
     
       2. The step pad of claim 1 wherein the step pad is made of one material in the set of materials consisting of metal, wood, robber, polymer, plastic and composite. 
     
     
       3. The step pad of claim 1 wherein the diameters of the grooves correspond with standard rope diameters, including 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch. 
     
     
       4. The step pad of claim 1 wherein the rope receiving notch on each end consists of a plurality of semi-circular grooves, the plurality of semi-circular grooves defining an opening in each of the two ends of the step pad, the opening in each of the two ends having a predetermined diameter, each semi-circular groove having different diameters and concentricities, whereby the grooves overlap, and are arranged so that the smaller diameter grooves are inside the larger diameter grooves, with respect to the predetermined length of the step pad, wherein when positioned inside a loop of rope with the length of the step pad essentially parallel to the plane of the loop, the loop of rope will engage at least one of the plurality of semi-circular grooves of the rope receiving notch on each end of the step pad and hold it in operative place within the loop of rope. 
     
     
       5. A method of constructing a permanent or temporary stirrup support, the stirrup support comprising a step pad with a homogeneous construction having a generally flat upper surface, a lower surface, a predetermined width and a predetermined length, the width and length suitable for grasping manually and for standing upon, the step pad having a rope receiving notch at each lengthwise end consisting of a plurality of semicircular grooves, the plurality of semi-circular grooves defining an opening of the notches, each semicircular groove having progressively smaller concentricities, the grooves overlapping with the smaller diameter grooves inside the larger diameter grooves, the method including the following steps: (a) creating a loop with a rope, the loop having a diameter about the length of the step pad;   (b) positioning the step pad within the loop of rope with the respective notches receiving the rope such that at least one of the plurality of semi-circular grooves engages the rope.